Wrapping apparatus and method



March 14, 1961 MUSKAT EI'AL 2,974,458

WRAPPING APPARATUS AND METHOD 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 29, 1959LauzlzE/jiwfia 11670 1052201 J5 mfg; 506 W March 14, 1961 R. MUSKAT EIAL2,974,458

WRAPPING APPARATUS AND METHOD Filed June 29, 1959 4 Shets-Sheet 2 March14, 1961 MUsKAT ETAL 2,974,458

WRAPPING APPARATUS AND METHOD Filed June 29, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 March14, 1961 R. MUSKAT ETA]. 2,974,458

WRAPPING APPARATUS AND METHOD Filed June 29, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 4WRAPPFNG APPARATUS AND METHOD Louis R. Muskat, Glenview, King L.Klopfeustein, Prospect Heights, and .lohn E. Kleboe, Chicago, Ill,assignors to Triangle Package Machinery Company, Chicago, lll., acorporation of Illinois Filed June 29, 1959, Ser. No. 823,570

12 Claims. (Cl. 53-206) This invention relates generally to methods andapparatus adapted to facilitate the performance of certain steps orparts of the operation of wrapping or packaging products of variouskinds.

This invention relates more particularly to methods and apparatus foraiding in performing certain steps or parts of what is generally knownas the diamond Wrap.

Heretofore several types of apparatus have been devised for use inaiding in the performance of the preliminary steps or part of thewrapping operation. However, all of the methods of and apparatus for usein this connection are open to one or more objections. It will beunderstood that the products to be wrapped vary widely in size and inthickness or depth; also, that a typical type wrapper sheet comprisesheat-sealable transparent sheet material which is thin and flexible incharacter.

customarily a stack of square sheets is provided on a table and usuallyheld in a tray disposed upon the top of a table or other surface so thatthe sheets can be successively removed from the top of the stack in sucha way that diagonally opposite corners of the sheet are brought togetheron the underside of the package in overlapping relation and latersealed. Later, the other two corners of the sheet are folded under thepackage and sealed, thus binding all four corners of the wrapper sheettogether, thereby completing thewrap. The present invention is notconcerned with the performance of the last-mentioned operations but onlywith the wrapping of the first two corners around the package. Forconvenience, this preliminary wrap will sometimes be herein termed apartial wrap.

Because of the wide range of product sizes, it is customary to provide anumber of sheet sizes and, for convenience, to provide a plurality oftrays of diiferent sizes, each adapted to hold a stack of sheets. Thesetrays are designed to be placed on and removed from a table or the likewhere the partial wrap is performed, in order to provide sheets oftheproper size. For best results it is'necessary that the tray be solocated relative to the package to be wrapped that the corner of thewrapper sheet which is disposed below the article to be wrapped be sopositioned that when the opposite corner of the sheet is wrapped overand around the articleor package the other two corners will be properlylocated relative to the package or article. 7

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a method and meanswhereby a tray holding a stack of sheets can be placed on and removedfrom the table or other support and quickly and easilyadjusted relativeto the package or article to be Wrapped.

In order to prevent undesired shiftingof the wrapper sheet in the stackwhen in position for a wrapping operation, it has beencustomary incertain instances to pro vide means for piercing at least several of thetop sheets through the leading or forward corner of the' stack ofsheets. Such means se'rvesa useful purpose.;- However,

Patented Mar. i l, 19%

on the table or support and stacks of sheets of diiferent sizes arepositioned on the table, the piercing means enters the sheet atdifierent distances inwardly from the forward corner. When the piercingmeans is located inwardly a considerable distance, trouble isencountered in the wrapping operation; that is to say, when the topsheet which is withdrawn from the stack to permit it to be wrappedaround the article an unsightly tear of substantial length resulted inthe corner portion of the sheet.

Under the conditions just described, at times the sheet would bunch upat the point of piercing, resulting in the accumulation of scrapmaterial adjacent the point of piercing.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method and apparatus bythe use of which the forward corner of the sheet will be pierced at alltimes the same distance inwardly, and that relatively a short distance,even though the sheets be large or small, thereby avoiding theobjectionable action resulting from the piercing of the sheet at arelatively great distance inwardly of the corner.

It should be understood that in forming the so-called diamond wrap, thewrapper sheet should be so placed under the article or package to bewrapped that when the sheet has been wrapped around the package to dispose the remote corner under the package the other two corners of thesheet should be disposed substantially along a line at right angles to aline extending through the first two corners of the sheet, thefirst-mentioned line also being located substantially centrally of thepackage from front to rear. To accomplish such positioning of the sheet,adjustment of the sheet forwardly or rearwardly with respect to thearticle or package to be Wrapped may be necessary. Hereto fore incertain constructions, when such shifting of the stack of sheets wasnecessary in order properly to locate the top sheet, the needle or otherpiercing member had to be lifted, held in raised position until theproper adjustment was made, and then again restored to sheet-piercingposition.

A further object of the invention is to provide a method and apparatusby the use of which adjustment of the stack of sheets forwardly orrearwardly, in order properly to orient the-into the package to bewrapped, can be made without the necessity of lifting or disturbing inany way the means which pierces the leading corner of the sheets.

Again it is an object of the invention to provide a supporting structurefor the article or package to be Wrapped which will be better adapted toreceive, support, and position the article or package when the articleis disposed merely on a flat sheet or paper board having littlethickness.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention will be obvious fromthe following description considered in connection with the drawingsillustrating a preferred embodiment and in which Figure l is a top planview. of apparatus embodying of a relatively large package.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view along the line 22 of Fig. 1 but on alarger scale, the stack of sheets being shown in elevation and ,apackage to be wrapped being shown by means of dot and dash linesforillustrative purposes;

Fig. 3 is a detail vertical sectional view on the line '3-3 of Fig. 1but on the scale of Fig-,2.

when such piercing means is located in al fixed position Fig. 4 is atopperspective view of the apparatus of Fig. l, as viewed from the rear,with the package or sheets being omitted for illustrative purposes.

Fig. 5 is a front perspective view as viewed along the line 5-5 of Fig.1.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the article orpackage-supporting structure adjusted for use in wrapping a relativelysmall package.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of certain structure forming a part of thearticle or package support.

Fig. 8 is a detailed transverse vertical sectional view through anadjustable package-centering guide.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a bottom view of a tray used for the stack of wrapper sheetsshowing certain means for locating it on a tray-supporting structurewhich is adapted to be slidably mounted on the worktable.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view illustrating the manner in which the topsheet of the stack is positioned in the course.

of wrapping the sheet around the package or article.

Fig. 12 is a detailed fragmentary view illustrating the manner in whicha part of the article support is adapted for swinging adjustment betweena position in which it is disposed for use when wrapping relativelysmall packages and one in which it is located when wrapping relativelylarge packages.

Fig. 13 is a face view of one of the swingable plate members comprisinga part of the package-supporting structure.

Fig. 14 is a bottom plan view of a package in the stage of being wrappedcorresponding substantially to that illustrated in Fig. 11, and

Fig. 15 is a bottom view of the partially wrapped package in thecondition in which the overlapping corners of the sheet are adapted tobe sealed in a well-known manner, as, for example, by pressing against aheating element.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly Figs. 1 to 7,inclusive, represents a table, the top 21 of which is supported atsuitable height on legs 22.

As a matter of convenience in description the righthand side of Fig. 1will be termed the front of the table or other support.

At the front of the table there is provided bracket structure which, asa whole, is designated by the numeral 23 and which is shown detached inFig. 7. The bracket structure 23 comprises a pair of bracket membershaving upright leg portions 23L and horizontally disposedarticlesupporting portions 23H. The two bracket members are spaced apartby means of two angle iron members 24, the ends of the upper flangeportions of which are welded to the underside of the horizontal portion23H of the bracket structure 23. As is clearly shown in Figs. 2, 6,

and 7 the angle members 24 are spaced apart so as to form a slot 24Sbetween the vertically disposed portions 24V of the angle members 24,the purpose of which will shortly appear.

As clearly appears in Figs. 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6, the leg portions of thebracket structure are secured to the table legs and top by means ofsuitable fastening devices 25 in such manner as to dispose the portions23H in spaced overhanging relation with respect to the table top. Thereis thus provided a substantial space between the underside of theportions 231-1 and the top of the table, the purpose of which willshortly appear.

Secured to the underside of each of the two horizontal portions 23H ofthe bracket structure23 is a plate member 26. Since the arrangement andconstruction of each of the plate members is alike, a description of onewill suffice for both. Each plate member has a configuration as shown indetail in Fig. 13. The plate 2 6 is swingably mounted on the bracketportion 23H by means of a stud member 27 which projects downwardlythrough the opening 28 in the said plate portion. An expansion spring 29is disposed around the stud 27 between the washer 30 and the undersideof plate 26 and tends to press the'plate 2 6 1 into paralel relation tothe bottom faceof bracket portion 23H. On the upper side of plate-26there is provided a circular projection 30 of a size adapted to fit intothe opening 31 in bracket portion 23H when the plate is moved to theposition shown in Fig. 1 to form an extension of the article orpackage-supporting portion 23H of bracket structure 23. That is theposition shown by means of full lines in Figs. 1 and 2 for use inwrapping relatively large packages. I

The other position is shown by means of dot and dash lines in Fig. 1 andby means of full lines in Figs. 4 and 6. When in the latter position,the projection 30' is disposed at one side of the bracket portion 23H(as shown in Figs. 4 and 6) so that no part of the plate 26 projectsrearwardly beyond'the margin 23M of bracket portion 23H. This is theposition in which the plate member is disposed when wrapping relativelysmall packages.

In order to swing the plate 26 between the two positions just mentioned,it is necessary to apply downward pressure to the free end of plate 26,which is the condition depicted in Fig. 12. When the projection 30'becomes aligned with opening 31 in bracket portion 23H it will snapthereinto under the urging of spring 29. Also, when the projection 30'is disposed beyond the bottom side of bracket portion 23H, plate 26 willagain be urged into intimate contact throughout, with the underside ofbracket portion 23H, as is best shown in Figs. 4 and 6.

From the foregoing description it will be clear that there is alwayspresented a substantially smooth fiat portion to receive and support thearticle or package to be wrapped, whether the plates 26 be disposed inone or the other of the positions indicated. At the same time, whenplates 26 are swung to the position shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 5, theyprovide projecting portions which prevent the relatively large articlestilting to a dangerous angle.

In order to locate the package on the supporting bracket portions 23H ina front to rear position, there is provided structure which is shown indetail and detached in Figs. 8 and 9, and in operative relation withother structure in Figs. 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6. This package-locatingstructure, which as a whole bears the numeral 35, comprises an elongatedinverted U-shaped member having depending flange or leg portions 36 anda top or web-connecting portion 37. The legs 36 also comprise portions38 which extend downwardly to a greater extent than do other portions ofthe legs. The length of the portions 38 is such that either thereof fitsnicely between the confronting marginal portions 23C of the legs 23L ofbracket members 23, or extends into the slots 248 of angle members 24(see Figs. 2 and 6) depending upon the placement of the member 35 i as awhole.

As will be explained in detail later, the member 35 can not only occupyeither of the two positions shown in Figs. 2 and 6, but can also bereversed end for end.

. Associated with member 35 is an elongated gauge bar as mounted forsliding movement, by brackets 41, in the space between the legs 36 ofmember 35. The bar 40 has aifixcd to one end thereof a finger member 42which extends at right angles to bar member 40.

The bar 40 is held in any placed position by means of the camberedspring 43, best shown in Fig. 8. The functioning of structure 35 will beexplained later when explaining the wrapping operation. However, fromwhat has already been described, it should be clear that structure 35can easily and quickly be placed in either of the positions indicated inFigs. 2 and 6, also reversed end for end, and that the finger member 42being secured by a fastener 42F can also be easily and quickly reversedso that it extends away from the bar 40 in a direction which isrearwardly of the bracket portions 23H, whether Wrapper sheet trayconstruction In practice a considerable number of different size sheetsare necessary to provide the best results in wrapping packages orarticles which vary between wide ranges as to size and as to thicknessor depth. Conveniently, therefore, a separate tray is provided for eachsize sheet, the tray being adapted to hold a stack of sheets insuperposed relation. Since these trays are alike in construction, exceptas to size, a description of one will suflice for all.

The wrapper-holding tray, as a whole, is designated by the numeral 50.It comprises a bottom plate portion 51 of rectangular shape in plan.Along two of the rear sides there are upstanding wall portions 52, 53which meet at the rear corner, at which point there is located anupstanding portion 54 that supports a bracket 55 in which there is atapped aperture 56. Through the aperture 56 there extends a needlemember 57 having a distal end 58 which pierces a rear corner portion ofat least several of the upper wrapper sheets in such manner as to retainteh stack of sheets on the tray or holder, but at the same timepermitting manual removal of the sheets, one at a time, as is requiredto perform the partial wrapping operation.

The tray or holder 50 is designed to be placed upon and quickly removedfrom a carriage which is slidably mounted on the table top and whichwill be described shortly. In order that the tray or holder 50 can belocated and held in the correct position on the carriage structure, itis provided with bar members 60 and 61 which are affixed to the bottomface of the bottom member 51 and which are so arranged that the edgeportions 62 and 63 are disposed at an angle of 90 degrees with respectto each other.

As will appear shortly, portions of the bottom of the tray are adaptedto engage upstanding portions of the carriage member, whereas part ofthe tray extends rearwardly of the carriage, for which reason the trayis provided at the rear corner with a downwardly extending lug 64 forengagement with the table top (see Fig. 3).

The tray-holding carriage and associated parts The tray-holding carriageas a whole bears the numeral 70. It comprises two plate members 71 oflike shape. They are held in spaced relation by a front spanner platemember 72 and a rear spanner plate member 73, which are affixed theretoas by welding. There is thus provided an elongated slot 74 (best shownin Fig. 4) adapted snugly to receive a bar member 75 affixed to andupstanding from the table top. Swingably attached to the carriage 70, asby means of arms 76, and binge members 77 is a crossbar 78, the latterhaving a centrally disposed opening '79 through which projects a sharpneedle-like member 80, carried by the member 81 detachably affixed tothe upper side of crossbar 7 8.

Secured to and intermediate the sides and on theupper face of the tabletop 21 is a bar member 75 which is substantially parallel to the tablesides. It extends from a point adjacent the front edge of the table, asubstantial distance rearwardly therefrom. The bar 75 is of such widththat it is accommodated snugly in the central space 74 between the twoplate members- 71 of the carriage 70. Thus, when the carriage 70 isplaced on the table top, as best shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 4, thecarriage can be moved toward or awayfrom the frontedge ofthe rectilinearpath by the guide method of operation.

7 Method of forming the partial wrap The operation of forming thepartial Wrap will first be described in connection witharelat'ivelylarge package or the inner side 'of' the package-supporting extensionsof the bracket portions 23H. This provides adequate support area for therelatively large package 90, as indicated by means of dot and dash linesin Figs. 1 and 2. As there shown, the product 91 is contained in aproduct tray 92, the bottom .of which rests in part upon the uppersurface of the bracket portions 23H. The extension plates 26 prevent anysubstantial tilting of the overhanging portion of the tray.

Movement of the package in a forward direction is prevented byengagement of the leading wall 92L of the product-holding tray 92 withthe stop member 35, one leg of which is disposed in the slot 248 and theother leg of which lies, along the outer face of bracket 23.

Properly to center the package on the support the gauge bar ispositioned so that one side of the package or product-holding tray willbe in engagement with the finger 42 of the shiftable bar 45.

If desired, the member 35 can be reversed end for end, in which eventthe finger portion 42 will be rotated 180 degrees in order to cause itto extend rearwardly of the front edge 20E of the table, as otherwise itwould extend away from the table top.

. It'will be understood that tray 59, holding a stack of wrapper sheetsof the proper size, will be in position on the carriage 70. In placingthe tray 50 on the carriage, the end portions 60E and 61B of bars 69 and61 on the bottom of the tray will contact the sides 723 of the carriagecross member '72, and the sides 62 and 63 of said bars will engage theangular edge portions 73E of the member 73. It will also be understoodthat in placing the wrapper sheet-holding tray-5d on the carriage, thecarriage bar member 78 will be lifted so that it will lie upon and pressagainst the uppermost sheet of the stack with the needle member piercingseveral of the sheets of the stack.

While the wrapper sheet-holding trays 56 may vary considerably in sizeand a considerable number are used in actual practice only, two sizesare indicated in Fig. 1, one by full lines and the other by brokenlines, the arrangement and position of the bar members 60 and 61 on'the'bottom of the tray, with respect to the forward corner, are always thesame. 'It follows, therefore, that the needle or knife member willalways pierce the wrapper sheet at the same distance inwardly of thelead mg corner of the sheet and relatively close thereto, whether thetray be a relatively large one holding a stack of relatively largewrapper sheets, or. a relatively small tray holding a stack ofrelatively small sheets.

Assume that the operator has placed a package to be wrapped on thesupport and that the operator is positioned at the far side of the tableof Fig. 1 and, as indicated by the arms of the operationin Fig. 11, inwhich LH indicates'th'e left hand and RH the right hand. The left handis used to take the upper sheet from beneath the end 58 of pin 57. Thewrapper sheet is then brought up over the top of the package, drawing itfirmly against package and, by continued movement, drawing it tightlyover the top of the package as shown in Figs. 2 and 11, the stop 35preventing shifting of the package forwardly of the support. At thistime the two other corners, C3 and C4 of the wrapper sheet, shouldbesubstantially aligned along the center line .C C, indicated by dot anddash lines (see Fig. 14), which indicatedcenter line is atright anglesto a line extending through corners City and C2. In theevent the cornersC 3 and C4 are forward of the center line C C of the package, thecarriage 7h shouldbe moved forward-until the said corners, C3 and C4,are substantially aligned with the center of the package. If the saidcorners are rearwardly of the said center line, then in that event, thecarriage should be moved rearwardly. This description assumes that oneis viewing the package from above. It is not necessary to remove thepackage from its support to enable this adjustment to be made, and, ofcourse, there is no disturbance of the stack of wrapper sheets on thetray. When properly adjusted the right hand is moved into position withthe fingers underneath the package and the thumb on top, as indicated inFig. 11. Because of the penetration of the several sheets of the stackof sheets by the needle and the pressure of pressure bar 78 downwardlyon the stack, rearward movement of the uppermost wrapper sheet issomewhat resisted. This restriction permits the operator to pull on theuppermost wrapper sheet (after freed from needle point 58) in adirection to move the same upwardly and away from the forward corner ofthe stack and to place the sheet under some tension. In the course ofthis swinging movement the wrapper sheet would extend generally upwardlyand rearwardly, as indicated by the dot and dash lines in Fig. 2, priorto being moved forward to the full line position as shown in Figs. 2 and11 and as before explained.

The right hand is now in a position to lift the package as a wholeupwardly away from the package support whilst holding the wrapper sheetfirmly against the package between the fingers and thumb of the righthand. The left hand is then moved downwardly so as first to dispose thecorner C2 in a downwardly pointing direction and then, by movementrearwardly, disposing the said corner C2 under the bottom of the packageinto overlapping relation with the corner C1, as indicated in Fig. 15.

It will be understood that the fingers of the hand when gripping thepackage to be wrapped are accommodated by the space between theconfronting portions of the bracket portions 231-1, and also between theextension plates 26 in any of their placed positions.

As the package is lifted from its support the wrapper sheet forwardcorner is pulled from beneath the pressure bar 78 so that the needle orknife member, which penetrates the top wrapper sheet, will cut a slit inthe wrapper sheet which is being withdrawn. The knife-cutting edge,however, is sharp and is always located at the same distance from theforward corner, which is relatively close thereto. This is not only sofor wrapper sheets of different size, since each stack is provided withits own tray, but is also the case when the carriage is moved forwardlyor rearwardly in order to position the wrapper sheet properly withrespect to the package being wrapped, as before explained.

In completing the partial wrap, the overlapped corners of the wrap, asshown in Fig. 15, are pressed against a hot plate sealingly to unitethem. Since such a practice is well known, it has'not been thoughtnecessary to illustrate the hot plate which, however, is preferablylocated adjacent but in advance of the table for convenience ofoperation.

The wrapping of the package is completed by the folding of the remainingtwo corners of the sheet into overlapping relation with the front andrear corners of the partial wrap on the bottom of the package. This maybe done by hand or by automatic machines designed for that purpose, butthe present invention is not concerned with those operations. Hence, nomechanism is shown for that purpose nor is any detailed explanationgiven.

The arrangement shown in Figs. 4 and 6 In the arrangement shown in Figs.4 and 6, parts are shown as adjusted for use in wrapping a relativelysmall package. It will be understood that the method of'operation isgenerally the same as previously described in connection with arelatively large package except that the tray holding the stack ofsheets will be smaller in size and, of course, the wrapper sheetsthereon will likewise be smaller and of such size as to be properly heldon the tray. Since the package is smaller, it does not need so muchsupport. If the package is quite small the plates 26 will be swung so asto disposed them as indicated by full lines in Figs. 4 and 6; also, themember 35 can be shifted from the position shown in Fig. 2 to theposition shown in Fig. 6. Such disposition places the stop 35 further tothe rear of the bracket portion 23H and enables the proper coaction withthe stack of wrapper sheets to be obtained quickly and easily.

It will, of course, be understood that if desired, and for certain sizedpackages, or packages which are relatively thick or relatively thin, themember 35 can be placed in either position, which is best adapted to thewrapping of the particular package and in conjunction with the plates 26in either of the two positions which they are designed to occupy.

Whilst the method of operation has been described as proceeding with theleft hand removing the remote corner of the sheet and serving to wrapthe same around the package, this is to be considered as by way ofillustration and not by way of limitation.

It will be understood that the gauge 40 member will be positioned in thestop member 35 so that the finger 42 thereof will serve as a stopserving to assure that the article or package will be centrally locatedon the support with respect to a front to rear center line.

If desired, the operator can operate on either side of the table.

From the foregoing it is clear the method and apparatus provide forgreat flexibility in the wrapping of packages of widely different sizesand thicknesses. The desired tray with the stack of wrapper sheetsthereon can be quickly placed upon and removed from the carriage, whichin turn can be quickly and easily slid forwardly or rearwardly properlyto orient the particular wrapper sheet to the package to be wrapped andwithout the necessity of removing the package from the support on whichit has been placed for a wrapping operation. Once the proper adjustmenthas been made, all like packages can be wrapped without the necessity offurther adjustment. Should it be desired to wrap packages of a differentsize it is only necessary to remove the tray and substitute a trayhaving the proper sized sheet. The other adjustments, if necessary,i.e., the placement of the'plates 26, the location of stop member 35,and the positioning of locating finger 42 can all be made quickly andeasily and without the use of any tools. Also, since the carriagecomprises the pressure bar and sheet-piercing means but one such meansis required, and it is always properly located in the same positionrelative to the forward corner of the stack, whether the sheets be largeor small.

An additional feature which should be mentioned in connection with theneedle member is that the front corner of plate 72 is provided with anopening 80 in registry with and underlying the needle 80. This openingserves the following purposes; that is to say, when substantially all ofthe sheets of the stack have been used the needle projects entirelythrough the remaining sheets. If the plate 72 did not have an opening atthat place the point of the needle would engage the top surface of themetal plate 72 and be dulled or damaged thereby. The opening 80 permitsthe needle point to project below the top surface of plate 72 withoutdamage thereto.

The above-mentioned advantages, as well as others, will be obvious tothose skilled in the art to which this invention pertains, withoutfurther comment.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for wrapping an article in a rectangular wrapping sheet,said apparatus comprising in combination carriage-supporting structure,means for supporting an article to be wrapped in a generally horizontalplane spaced above said carriage-supporting structure, carriage meansmounted on said supporting structure in a plane below and for guidedrectilinear movement toward and away from said article-supporting means,tray means for holding a stack of rectangular wrapper sheets, coactingmeans on said tray and carriage for detachably mounting said tray in apredetermined position on said carriage in a plane below thearticle-supporting means and with the forward corner of the stack ofsheets pointing toward a location over which said article-supportingmeans is positioned, and means on said carriage for engagement with atleast the forward corner of the uppermost sheet of the stack forresisting movement of such sheet rearwardly of the stack.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1 in which the means on thecarriage for engagement with at least the forward corner of the stackincludes a pointed member which pierces at least the forward corner ofthe uppermost sheet of the stack.

3. The combination set forth in claim 1 in which the means on thecarriage for engagement with at least the forward corner of the stackincludes a bar member which exerts a downward pressure on the stack.

4. The combination set forth in claim 3 in which the bar member carriesa pointed member which pierces at least the forward corner of theuppermost sheet of the stack.

5. Apparatus for partially wrapping an article in a rectangular Wrappersheet, said apparatus comprising support structure, means for supportingan article to be wrapped in a position in spaced relation above aportion of said support structure, a tray and a stack of wrapper sheetsin the tray on said support, means for locating said tray and stack ofwrapper sheets in a plane below the article-supporting means and withthe forward corner of the stack underneath said article-supporting meansand for guiding the tray forwardly and rearwardly relative to thelocation below said article-supporting means, said article-supportingmeans comprising shelf structure disposed in a substantially horizontalplane, shelf extension means on the underside of the shelf structure andmeans supporting said extension means from said shelf whereby the sameis movable froma position extending rearwardly of the shelf structure toa retracted position in which substantially none thereof extendsrearwardly of the shelf structure.

6. The combination set forth in claim 5 in which the shelf extensionmeans comprises a pair of plates swingbale upon a vertical pivot.

7. The combination set forth in claim 6 in which means are provided forlocking the plates in extended position, said means including structurefor urging the plates in an upward direction.

8. Apparatus for partially wrapping an article in a rectangular wrappersheet, said apparatus comprising support structure,-means for supportingan article to be wrapped in a position in spaced relation above saidsupport structure, a tray and a stack of wrapper sheets in the tray onsaid support, means for locating said tray and stack of wrapper sheetsin a plane below the article-supporting means and with the forwardcorner of the stack underneath the article-supporting means and forguiding the tray forwardly and rearwardly relative to the location belowsaid article-supporting means, said article-supporting means comprisingshelf structure disposed substantially in a horizontal plane, andarticle stop means detachably afiixed to said supporting means saidarticle stop means and supporting means being formed to permit the stopmeans to be located in a position to extend upwardly from said articlesupporting means at least in part and comprising a channel member havingspaced flanges, either of the flanges of which is adapted to enter intosupporting relation with the article-supporting means whereby the stopcan be located in a plurality of positions spaced different distancesfrom the rear margin of the article-supporting means.

9. The combination set forth in claim 8 in which the article stop meansis provided with a gauge member slidable longitudinally of the stopmeans.

10. The combination set forth in claim 9 in which means are provided forautomatically holding the gauge -member in any placed position.

11. The combination set forth in claim 9 in which the gauge member isprovided with a finger member extending in a direction at substantiallyright angles to the body of the gauge member.

12. The combination set forth in claim 11 in which the finger member isafiixed to the body of the gauge member by means permitting guiderelocation of the same to extend in opposite directions.

References .Cited inthe file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,840,962 Stremke July 1, 1958

